Dozens of Rhode Island Children Safer Following National “Seat Check Saturday”

Every day, thousands of children are improperly restrained in their car seat or do not have the right car or booster seat for their height and weight. More than three out of four child safety seats are improperly installed, according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To help combat preventable injuries due to improperly installed car seats, certified child passenger safety technicians from the Injury Prevention Center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and other agencies inspected 85 car seats in the Roger Williams Park Zoo parking lot, and educated parents and caregivers on how to properly install car and booster seats in their cars.

The free event, sponsored by the Kohl’s Cares – Kids on the Go program, was part of National Seat Check Saturday, held Saturday, Sept. 21. A properly installed child safety seat lowers the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars.

During the event, representatives from Kohl’s also presented a check for $138,800 to Hasbro Children’s Hospital to support continuation of the car seat check program for the next year. Kohl’s commitment to Hasbro Children’s Hospital is made possible through the Kohl’s Cares – Kids on the Go Program, which raises funds for children’s health and educational opportunities. Since 2006, Kohl’s has raised more than $1 million for Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

For more information on car and booster seat safety, or to locate an upcoming free car seat check event, please visit www.keepkidsinjuryfree.org.